'Axed' Watson becomes first-time dad!

Melbourne, Mar 14 (ANI): Australian vice-captain Shane Watson's axing from the third Test turned out to be a blessing in disguise after his wife gave birth to a baby boy in Sydney, three days after Watson flew out from India.

Watson, who was one of the four players controversially, stood out from the rain-washed third Test at Mohali for disciplinary breach, arrived in time to be with his wife Lee for the birth of his son Will, the Age reports.

Watson, who flew out from Chandigarh as soon as his punishment was announced as he was desperate to be with his wife who was in her last stages of pregnancy, had said that he had originally planned to miss the fourth Test in Delhi next week but added that he had to change his plans post-axing to be with his wife.

Meanwhile, the birth of the couple's first child will open debate about whether Watson could now return to India for the final Test of the series, with the vice-captain hinting at a possible retirement from Tests following the birth of his child.

However Australian captain Michael Clarke said on Wednesday that he would like to have his deputy back as soon as possible. (ANI)